Microcontrollers normally need a programmer to upload firmware hex files. This design uses an altogether different route. A Java app running on a PC first converts the hex file to a WAV file. Now once a small bootloader program described here has been burned to flash, the microcontroller can be plugged into the PC's line output. The code now gets uploaded by playing the WAV file on the PC! Those of you old enough to remember cassette players, space invaders and the ZX Spectrum may now be getting a sense of deja vu.
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